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Welcome to Aldis Hodge Online

Welcome to the first site for an American actor, Aldis Hodge. Aldis has been acting since he was 3 years old. He is best known for his portrayal of Alec Hardison on the TNT series Leverage, MC Ren in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, Levi Jackson in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, and as Noah in the WGN America series Underground. He has several movies and TV series upcoming in 2018-2019.

We also have your first look at two trailers for the series, which provide introductions to the runaway slaves, the plantation owners who aim to keep them captive and the good-natured allies who provide shelter along the way.

WGN America, home of Manhattan and Salem, is debuting a new series in the new year focusing on the story of the Underground Railroad. The series comes from Misha Green (Sons of Anarchy), Joe Pokaski (Daredevil), and is also executive produced by John Legend (who will handle the score, soundtrack and all music elements of the series); it will revolve around a group of slaves on a plantation who band together to fight for their freedom. As WGN puts it,

“Underground” tells the story of revolutionaries who use their ingenuity, power and perseverance to attempt the greatest escape in history despite the dire consequences that awaited them on the other side.

Or as the trailer puts it, armed with a Bible and a gun: “When we run, ain’t no white man going to be able to stop us.” Check out the first teaser trailer below (which, like Manhattan, is stylishly shot and full of restive energy).

The series will debut on WGN America in early 2016. You can check out all of the character descriptions and posters here, as well as the new character posters below.

WGN America series about Underground Railroad was executive produced by Oscar-winning composer and Akiva Goldsman and is set to debut in early 2016

WGN America released six character posters for its new Underground Railroad drama “Underground” on Sunday.

The series follows follows a group of plantation slaves who band together for the fight for their lives and their freedom as they make the perilous journey from the deep South to the North.

The series stars Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Amriah Vann, and Alano Miller. In addition, Smollett-Bell’s brother, “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, will appear on the series as a runaway slave.

The series will also feature Marc Blucas, Adina Porter, Mykelti Williamson, Johnny Ray Gill, and Chris Chalk and many more.

Misha Green wrote and created the series along with Joe Pokaski. The pair also serve as executive producers alongside Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures; Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold of Safehouse Pictures; and Academy Award-winning songwriter John Legend, along with Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius of Get Lifted.

Anthony Hemingway directs and serves as executive producer for the first four episodes. Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios are producing.

Hailing from creators and executive producers Misha Green (“Sons of Anarchy,” “Heroes”) and Joe Pokaski (“Daredevil,” “Heroes”), and executive producer and Academy Award-winner John Legend, “Underground” is a high-stakes, dramatic thriller about running for your life, and taking your freedom at any cost. Be among the first to see an exclusive screening of the premiere episode, followed by a Panel discussion with the cast and creative team of one of TV’s most highly anticipated new dramas. This is the story of the greatest escape in American history. “Underground” is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios and will air next year on WGN America.

If you attended the 2015 Essence Festival in New Orleans over the weekend, you may have already seen the first trailer for WGN America’s upcoming original series on the Underground Railroad, titled “Underground,” because the cast and creators were present to unveil a first-look trailer at the series, as well as participate in a panel discussion about the show.

I’ve been anticipating that the trailer will make its way online soon, but nothing yet. What I do have to share is the below first-look image from the series, as well as an official synopsis which gives us a bit more info on who the series’ main players are.

First, the official synopsis reads: In 1857, a courageous 25-year-old slave named Noah organizes a small group of fellow slaves on Macon Plantation, with the goal of escaping to the Underground Railroad and thence to freedom. The odds of success are slim; the plantation’s terrain is unforgiving, and their politically ambitious owner, Tom Macon, will surely kill anyone attempting to run. For those who make it off the plantation, the risks and uncertainties only multiply. Pursued by professional slave hunters, they will have to decide which way to turn and whether or not they can trust the strangers who offer them help.

Playing Noah is Aldis Hodge, who is described as a brave, driven and insanely clever field slave. And on the other side of the fight is Reed Diamond, who plays Tom Macon, the plantation owner and political candidate.

Joining both gentlemen are: Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage; Christopher Meloni is August Pullman, a mysterious figure who walks a tightrope between morality and survival; Jessica de Gouw is Elizabeth Hawkes, a socialite who shares her husband’s abolitionist ideals; Alano Miller plays Cato, a cunning, charismatic man despised and feared by his fellow slaves; Adina Porter plays Pearly Mae, a strong-willed wife and mother; Amirah Vann is Ernestine, a fiercely devoted mother and head house slave; Marc Blucas is John Hawkes, a lawyer whose ideals clash with the legislation he’s sworn to uphold; Mykelti Williamson plays Moses, a fiery preacher;; and finally Johnny Ray Gil as Sam, Rosalee’s brother and a talented carpenter.

The project hails from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, and is set for a 2016 premiere on WGN America.

“Underground” is created and written by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who serve as Executive Producers alongside writer Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures, and Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold of Safehouse Pictures.

Anthony Hemingway directs and serves as Executive Producer for the first four episodes.

I’m sure the trailer will be released online soon enough, since it’s supposed to have already premiered at the Essence Festival over the weekend. While you wait, here’s a first-look image from the series, featuring Aldis Hodge as Noah, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Rosalee, as she appears to be treating his wounds, likely after a lashing, in a scene from the first episode.

If you’ll be attending the 2015 Essence Festival in New Orleans, this week, here’s some news you might be interested in knowing…

The cast and creators of WGN America’s upcoming original series on the Underground Railroad, titled “Underground,” will unveil a first-look trailer at the series, as well as participate in a panel discussion about the show, at the 2015 Essence Festival in New Orleans.

We also now know with certainty what character each actor cast in the series is playing: Jurnee Smollett-Bell stars as Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage; Aldis Hodge plays Noah, a brave, driven and insanely clever field slave; Christopher Meloni is August Pullman, a mysterious figure who walks a tightrope between morality and survival; Jessica de Gouw is Elizabeth Hawkes, a socialite who shares her husband’s abolitionist ideals; Alano Miller plays Cato, a cunning, charismatic man despised and feared by his fellow slaves; Adina Porter plays Pearly Mae, a strong-willed wife and mother; Amirah Vann is Ernestine, a fiercely devoted mother and head house slave; Marc Blucas is John Hawkes, a lawyer whose ideals clash with the legislation he’s sworn to uphold; Mykelti Williamson plays Moses, a fiery preacher; Reed Diamond is Tom Macon, a plantation owner and political candidate; and finally Johnny Ray Gil as Sam, Rosalee’s brother and a talented carpenter.

Logline: “In ‘Underground,’ bravery, ingenuity and power take center stage as slaves band together in the fight of their lives for their families, their future…and their freedom.”

The project hails from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, and is set for a 2016 premiere on WGN America.

“Underground” is created and written by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who serve as Executive Producers alongside writer Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures, and Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold of Safehouse Pictures.

Anthony Hemingway directs and serves as Executive Producer for the first four episodes.

In WGN America’s “Underground,” bravery, ingenuity and power take center stage as slaves band together in the fight of their lives for their families, their future…and their freedom. Hailing from Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, “Underground” is currently in production on a straight-to-series order in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a 2016 premiere on WGN America.

The “Underground” stars and creators’ appearance at the Essence Festival comes on the heels of WGN America’s recent announcement that breakout star and Smollett-Bell’s brother, Jussie Smollett (“Empire”), has signed on to guest star in the series, marking the first time in 20 years the siblings will be seen together on the small screen.

Alongside Smollett-Bell, who stars as Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage, is an internationally renowned cast including Aldis Hodge, who plays Noah, a brave, driven and insanely clever field slave; Emmy Award-nominated actor Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”) as August Pullman, a mysterious figure who walks a tightrope between morality and survival; Jessica de Gouw as Elizabeth Hawkes, a socialite who shares her husband’s abolitionist ideals; Alano Miller as Cato, a cunning, charismatic man despised and feared by his fellow slaves; Adina Porter (“True Blood,” “The 100,” “The Newsroom”) as Pearly Mae, a strong-willed wife and mother; Amirah Vann (“Girls,” “And So It Goes”) as Ernestine, a fiercely devoted mother and head house slave; Marc Blucas (“Blue Bloods”) as John Hawkes, a lawyer whose ideals clash with the legislation he’s sworn to uphold; Mykelti Williamson (“Justified,” “24”) as Moses, a fiery preacher; Reed Diamond (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) as Tom Macon, a plantation owner and political candidate; and Johnny Ray Gill (“Rectify”) as Sam, Rosalee’s brother and a talented carpenter.

WGN America is moving forward with its Akiva Goldsman-produced drama Underground, giving the Underground Railroad project a 10-episode straight-to-series order with Christopher Meloni, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge and Jessica De Gouw set to star. The pickup comes weeks after NBC at TCA announced Freedom Run, an eight-hour miniseries set against the background of the underground railroad, which was put on a fast track with Stevie Wonder executive producing and writing the score for a Broadway musical based on the mini.

Underground, originally announced by WGNA in August, also is expected to have a top music name involved. I hear Kanye West is in talks for a role on the music side of the series.

Underground, from Sony Pictures TV and Tribune Studios, follows a group of slaves who plan a daring escape from a Georgia plantation to cross 600 miles to freedom, aided along the way by a secret abolitionist couple running a station on the Underground Railroad, as they evade those tasked with bringing them back, dead or alive.

Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights) plays Rosalee, a shy house slave with a powerful inner strength and courage; Aldis Hodge (Turn) is Noah, a brave and clever slave on the plantation with dreams of freedom and a dangerous plan to escape; Law & Order: SVU alum Meloni is August, a secretive mercenary who walks a tightrope between survival and morality; De Gouw is Elizabeth, a socialite who shares her husband’s abolitionist ideals.

The series was created and written by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski (Heroes), who also serve as executive producers with Goldsman from Weed Road Pictures, along with Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold from Safehouse Pictures. Anthony Hemingway (Treme) is set to direct the series’ first two episodes. Production is set to begin this spring for a 2016 premiere.

Underground is WGN America’s fifth straight-to-series order to date. The first two, Salem and Manhattan, already have been picked up for Season 2. Also starting production this spring is new drama Outsiders, also from Sony TV and Tribune Studios. Ten Commandments, co-produced by The Weinstein Company, is in pre-production.

Meloni, repped by Gersh and Industry Entertainment, is filming Wet Hot American Summer for Netflix. Hodge is repped by Paradigm. Smollett-Bell is repped by ICM Partners, Storefront and Darrell Miller at Fox Rothschild.

Follows Long Island farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence.

The drama is a fictional account of what was called the "Boston Miracle" and centers on an African-American District Attorney who comes in from Brooklyn advocating change and the unlikely alliance he forms with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran who is invested in maintaining the status quo.

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